Worksheet for practicing "may" and "might" in English grammar.

This worksheet focuses on the modal verbs “may” and “might”, which are often used to express possibility, permission, or polite requests. Although they are similar, there are subtle differences in usage:

- May is more formal and is often used for:
- Permission (“You may leave.”)
- Polite requests (“May I borrow your pen?”)
- Possibility (especially in written/formal contexts — “It may rain tomorrow.”)

- Might is slightly less certain than “may” and is often used for:
- Less likely possibilities (“He might come, but I’m not sure.”)
- Hypothetical situations
- Also for polite requests (sometimes considered even more polite than “may”)

In many cases, especially in modern spoken English, they are interchangeable — but context matters.

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Let’s solve each sentence one by one:

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**1. - ________ I have some tea?
  - She asked if she ________ have some tea.**

→ First blank: This is a polite request → May
→ Second blank: Reported speech — past tense of “may” → might (or sometimes “might” is used for politeness even in reported speech)

✔ Answer: May / might

*(Note: Some grammarians accept “might” in both, but traditionally “may” is for direct polite request, “might” for reported or uncertain.)*

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2. He ________ arrive today, but I am not sure.

→ Expressing uncertainty → use might

✔ Answer: might

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**3. - Can I play now, mum?
  - No. You ________ until you finish your work.**

→ This is about permission — mom is saying “you are not allowed to play until...”
→ So we need a word meaning “are not permitted to” → may not

✔ Answer: may not

*(Note: “might not” would mean “it’s possible you won’t be able to,” which doesn’t fit here — this is a rule/permission issue.)*

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4. I was afraid that I ________ be late.

→ Expressing possibility in the past — “I feared it was possible I would be late” → use might

✔ Answer: might

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5. You ________ shout in class!

→ This is a prohibition — telling someone they are not allowed to do something → may not

✔ Answer: may not

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6. - I love you, dad. You ________ be the best father in the world.

→ Expressing possibility or admiration — “You could possibly be the best…” — this is hypothetical praise → might

✔ Answer: might

*(“May” could also work here, but “might” fits better for expressing a gentle, admiring possibility.)*

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7. ______ God have mercy on your soul.

→ This is a fixed phrase — an old-fashioned or solemn expression → always uses May

✔ Answer: May

*(This is a set expression — “May God bless you”, “May you rest in peace”, etc.)*

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8. I told them I ________ go if I felt like it, but I wasn't sure.

→ Expressing possibility with uncertainty → use might

✔ Answer: might

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9. Students ________ only borrow four books at a time.

→ This is a rule or regulation — students are permitted to borrow only 4 → may

✔ Answer: may

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## ✔ Final Answers:

1. May / might
2. might
3. may not
4. might
5. may not
6. might
7. May
8. might
9. may

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## 💡 Teaching Tip:
To help students remember:
- Use “may” for permission, rules, or polite requests.
- Use “might” for uncertain possibilities or hypotheticals.
- “May not” = not allowed; “might not” = probably won’t happen.
- Fixed expressions like “May God...” always use “May”.

Let me know if you’d like a printable version or flashcards for practice!